The group attribution error refers to people's tendency to believe that the characteristics of an individual group member are reflective of the group as a whole, or that a group's decision outcome must reflect the preferences of individual group members, even when contrary information is available. This cognitive bias shifts focus from individual behaviors to group outcomes and attitudes, leading to oversimplifications in understanding group dynamics.
A classic example of the group attribution error occurred in a study where participants were shown a case study of an individual welfare recipient. Even when informed that this individual was atypical for the group, participants formed negative views about all welfare recipients based solely on that one case, demonstrating how individual situations inaccurately shaped perceptions of the broader group.
To overcome the group attribution error, individuals should consciously seek out diverse perspectives and information about a group, focusing on statistical data and acknowledging the variability within group members rather than generalizing based on single cases.